Manitowoc will host a three-day Sub Fest July 10-12.

Manitowoc organizations have all hands on deck in preparation for a new event meant to target visitors from near and far.

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum, along with the Capitol Civic Centre and Rahr-West Art Museum, are readying to host Manitowoc's first Sub Fest this summer.

"We're trying to get several thousand people to come here that weekend," submarine curator Karen Duvalle said. "We're really hoping to get the community involved and offer more for the visitors coming here, because it's going to be a great thing."

Event planners are looking for help from other area businesses that want to contribute and soon will be seeking individuals willing to volunteer during the festivities.

The three-day festival — scheduled for July 10-12 — will feature a variety of events throughout downtown, including access to new museum exhibits, self-guided USS Cobia submarine tours with staff and veterans stationed throughout, food and craft vendors, family activities, fireworks, U.S. Navy art exhibit at the Rahr-West and a Lakeshore Big Band USO performance and World War II movies showing at the Civic Centre.

"The Capitol Civic Centre thought it would be really fun to do a submarine film fest, and we thought if we're going to do that, why not celebrate and honor the submarines that were built here?" Duvalle said. "Because it's really an important part of our heritage.

"We're the freshwater submarine capital of the world, so we really wanted to feature that and also feature this great landmark we have here, the USS Cobia," Duvalle added.

This year's Fest will focus on the 28 submarines built in Manitowoc during World War II and the veterans who served on them.

"With the World War II guys, there aren't that many left to tell their stories, so we're helping them out and telling their stories for them," Duvalle said.

The fleet submarine built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding presented a small silhouette. Her black-painted hull was normally two-thirds submerged when riding on the surface.(Photo: Courtesy of The Manitowoc Company)

According to the department, the event is expected to generate a local economic impact of $282,000 from traveler spending at hotels, restaurants and stores.

"Sub Fest is the first event of its kind in Wisconsin, and will not only put a spotlight on this part of the state's rich history, but also create a positive economic impact in the area," said Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett.

The museum plans to use the funding for local and national advertising campaigns.

"Submarines are a part of Manitowoc's and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum's identity," museum CEO Rolf Johnson said. "Having local businesses, organizations and citizens involved in launching Sub Fest harkens back to the community-wide effort to build the submarines here to support the war effort.

"With the support of this JEM grant, we'll be able to attract visitors from across the country to this fun, unique, new annual festival in Wisconsin."